It is said Ocracoke's heyday was in the 1840s when a constant parade of oceangoing and sailing vessels entered Ocracoke Inlet each day. After the Civil War began, trade dwindled after blockade ships were sunk in Oregon Inlet. But it survived as a harbor light and served continuously as a light leading to and away from the Cape Hatteras Light.
Ocracoke is reached only by ferry: from the southern end of Hatteras Island, a free of charge state ferry carries cars and passengers to the island in about 30 minutes.